The [18F]MK-6240 Is A Promising New-Generation Tau Radiotracer

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A recent clinical study earlier this year, validates and shows that the [18F]MK-6240 is a promising, revolutionary tau tracer. It has the potential to be used towards disease-modifying therapies and even for diagnostic use in the future.

The study was performed in vitro on various subjects. 14 on post mortem brain tissues. In vivo quantification was put through 16 subjects ( out of those, 4 AD patients, 3 mild cognitive impairment patients, 6 healthy elderly subjects, 3 health young adults). They all underwent 180-min dynamic scans; and out of those 6 had arterial sampling for metabolite correction.

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Through the results of the study,  the [18F]MK-6240 showed its potential towards disease diagnosis and assessment of therapeutic interventions. The conclusion for the in vitro uptake was higher in AD patients but no difference found in the cerebellar gray matter. The in vivo [18F]MK-6240, however, showed favourable kinetics along with rapid brain delivery and washout.

With this imaging agent, there comes a new challenge in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and its research. They will become complimentary in validating existing amyloid -β tracers while enriching clinical trial on tau- positive subjects. They will also continue to improve precision in the staging of AD, continuously measuring the neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.

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